The drought that began back in June 2005 continued through December 2005 and into January 2006.  Since the growing season was now over, the main impacts on the drought were hydrologic.  A report on the hydrologic conditions is supplied by the service hydrologist.Stream flows began the month with most locations reporting near normal (25th to 74th percentile) conditions.  A few locations reported above normal (76th to 90th percentile) conditions and a few locations reported below normal (10th to 24th percentile) conditions.  From the 2nd through the 6th most locations reported below normal conditions, with a few locations reporting much below normal (less than 10th percentile) conditions and a few locations reporting near normal conditions.  After the 6th most locations returned to the same conditions they experienced when the month began.  Aside from some minor day to day fluctuations, these conditions persisted through the end of the month.December's precipitation was below normal.  Total precipitation for the month was 1.26 inches, or 0.61 inches below normal and 67% of normal.  The six-month precipitation total was 11.71 inches, or 7.05 inches below normal and 62% of normal.  December was the eleventh consecutive month with below normal precipitation.  During this eleven-month period total precipitation has been 21.85 inches, or 13.08 inches below normal and 63% of normal.According to the U.S. Drought Monitor maps (http://drought.unl.edu/dm/), the drought conditions for the HSA did not change much during the month.  By the end of the month, the eastern two-thirds of the HSA were in the Extreme Drought (D3) category.  The western one-third of the HSA was in the Severe Drought (D2) or Moderate Drought (D1) category.According to the NOAA/NWS Climate Prediction Center, parts of the HSA have been extremely dry over the past year.  In the northwest Illinois climate division the yearly precipitation total for 2005 was in the lowest 1% of all annual precipitation totals for 1895 through 2005.  In the east central Iowa climate division the total for 2005 was in the lowest 4% of all annual precipitation totals for the same time period.Conditions have also been dry, albeit not as severe, over the past three years.  In the northwest Illinois climate division the three-year precipitation total for 2003 through 2005 was in the lowest 4% of all three-year precipitation totals for 1897 through 2005.  In the east central Iowa climate division the total for 2003 through 2005 was in the lowest 10% of all three year precipitation totals for the same time period.

Drought in ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in STEPHENSON, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in WARREN, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in WHITESIDE, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in BUREAU, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in CARROLL, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in HANCOCK, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in HENDERSON, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in HENRY, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in JO DAVIESS, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in MCDONOUGH, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in MERCER, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought in PUTNAM, ILLINOIS
From 01-DEC-05 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY